Ragtime collaboration in Potsdam Nov. 14-17

POTSDAM  SUNY Potsdams Department of Theatre and Dance and the Crane Opera Ensemble and Orchestra have partnered for their triennial collaboration, with the production of the Tony Award-winning musical, Ragtime, running from Nov. 14 to 17.

The show brings together a cast and crew of students and draws on the expertise of faculty from both the Department of Theatre and Dance and the Crane School of Music.

Ragtime is our fifth collaborative musical for the program, and we are thrilled to be working on such a challenging piece that honors our growing diversity on campus, said director Carleen Graham, who leads the Crane Opera Ensemble.

Ragtime was a bestselling 1975 historical novel by E.L. Doctorow that was transformed into a musical in 1996. This work had countless Tony nominations and won in the categories of Best Book of a Novel, Best Original Score, Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical (for Audra McDonald) and Best Orchestration. Ragtime also was nominated for 13 Drama Desk Awards, ultimately winning five.

Ragtime tells the story of three groups in the United States in the early 20th century: African Americans, upper-class suburbanites from New Rochelle and European immigrants. Their lives are forever changed by the circumstances that bring them together. Like the novel, the plot is interlaced with historical figures, including Henry Ford, J.P. Morgan, Emma Goldman, Evelyn Nesbit, Harry Houdini and Booker T. Washington.

Actors Equity guest artist Justin Lee Miller will be in residency on campus for the Ragtime run, playing the starring role of Coalhouse Walker Jr.

SUNY Potsdam students make up the rest of the cast, along with several local actors. North country community members involved in this production include Sylvain Foisy (Edgar); Luca Pecora (little girl); Eric, Daniel and Mark Severtson (newsboys), and Bruce Brownlee (grandfather).

the detailsWHAT: SUNY Potsdam presents Ragtime at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 14 to Nov. 16, with a matinee at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17.WHERE: Sara M. Snell Music Theater at SUNY Potsdams Crane School of Music.COST: Ticket prices are $12 for adults and $8 for SUNY Potsdam students, faculty and staff. Tickets may be purchased by visiting the Community Performance Series box office in the lobby of Snell Theater at SUNY Potsdams Crane School of Music or at Northern Music & Video, 29 Market St., Potsdam. Tickets also can be purchased by calling CPS at 267-2277 or by visiting www.cpspotsdam.org

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